Method and piercing device for creating clearances in the moulding sand of a moulding box

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for creating clearances in the moulding said of a moulding box, the moulding box being transported into a working area of a robot, a piercing device being brought into a predeterminable position above the moulding box, a piercing implement of the piercing device being moved by a drive predetermined distance in the direction of the moulding said and introduced into the moulding said to a previously defined depth. The invention also relates to a piercing device for creating clearances in the moulding said of a moulding box with at least one connection point at which a mechanical and/or electrical and/or activating connection to a robot is made possible, with a holding device, with at least one drive and with at least one piercing implement, the holding device being connected to the drive and to the at least one connecting point and the at least one piercing implement being movable back and forth along an imaginary longitudinal axis by the at least one drive.

The invention relates to a method and a piercing device for creatingclearances in the molding sand of a molding box.

It is generally known that such clearances in the molding sand of amolding box for the production of cast parts in foundries are created byhand or by special machines that are adapted to the molding box that isrespectively being used.

On the basis of this prior art, it is an object of the invention toprovide a method and a piercing device for creating clearances in themolding sand of a molding box that extend the application possibilitiesof known methods and devices.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the method forcreating clearances in the molding sand of a molding box with thefeatures given in claim 1. Moreover, the object is also achievedaccording to the invention by the piercing device for creatingclearances in the molding sand of a molding box with the features givenin claim 9.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a method for creating clearancesin the molding sand of a molding box, the molding box being transportedinto a working area of a robot, a piercing device being brought into apredeterminable position above the molding box, a piercing implement ofthe piercing device being moved by a drive by a predetermined distancein the direction of the molding sand and introduced into the moldingsand to a previously defined depth.

The robot positions the piercing device, whereby the position orpositions of the piercing device can be adapted particularly easily tothe molding box that is respectively being used. The piercing methodaccording to the invention can consequently be used for manyapplications, advantageously extending the application possibilities.

The invention also relates to a piercing device for creating clearancesin the molding sand of a molding box with at least one connecting pointat which a mechanical and/or electrical and/or activating connection toa robot is made possible, with a holding device, with at least one driveand with at least one piercing implement, the holding device beingconnected to the drive and to the at least one connecting point and theat least one piercing implement being movable back and forth along animaginary longitudinal axis by the at least one drive.

The piercing device is suitable for connection to a robot and iscorrespondingly designed. In this way, according to the invention theposition or positions of the piercing device can be adapted particularlyeasily to the respective task. The piercing device can consequently beused for many applications, advantageously extending the applicationpossibilities.

Further advantageous refinements of the subject matter of the inventioncan be taken from the dependent claims.

The invention, advantageous refinements and improvements of theinvention as well as special advantages of the invention are to beexplained and described in more detail on the basis of exemplaryembodiments that are represented in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a robot with a first piercing device in a first view,

FIG. 2 shows the robot in a second view and

FIG. 3 shows a second piercing device.

FIG. 1 shows a robot 10 with a first piercing device 12 in a first view,the first piercing device 12 being arranged at the outer end of a robotarm 14. A first molding box 16 is arranged underneath the first piercingdevice 12, a second molding box 18 is arranged directly alongside it.The robot 10 stands here laterally alongside the molding box 16 to beworked, but may also be arranged on a framework and also be positionedin such a way above the first molding box 16. A first piercing implement20 is attached to the piercing device 12 in a first holding means 24.

The method according to the invention for creating clearances in themolding sand of a molding box proceeds as follows. First, the firstmolding box 16 is transported into a working area of a robot 10. Thefirst piercing device 12 is brought into a predeterminable positionabove the molding box 16 and moved by a drive 22 by a predetermineddistance in the direction of the molding sand and introduced into themolding sand to a previously defined depth.

FIG. 2 shows the robot 10 with the first piercing device 12 in a secondview, for which reason the same reference numerals as those inserted inFIG. 1 are also used for the same components.

FIG. 3 shows a second piercing device 30 for creating clearances in themolding sand of a molding box with a connecting point 32 at which amechanical connection to a robot (not represented in this figure) ismade possible. A number of holding elements 34 form a holding device, towhich an electric drive 36 is connected. A second piercing implement 38is designed in this figure as a round rod and is arranged on the drive36 by means of a holding plate 40. The second piercing impleament 38 canbe moved back and forth along an imaginary longitudinal axis by thedrive 36, this imaginary longitudinal axis coinciding with thelongitudinal axis of the second piercing implement 38.

The following example is also given with respect to the above:

Venting holes are to be introduced into a molding box. For this purpose,a robot equipped with a venting device is used.

An automatic conveying mechanism intermittently advances the moldingboxes at fixed intervals. During the brief standstill of the moldingbox, the predetermined holes are introduced into the casting sand bymeans of a robot and the venting device.

All box sizes that are compatible with automation can be covered. Thenumber of holes, their diameter and the piercing depth may be varied.

A higher-level control transmits the position of the holes to beproduced, after which the robot moves to this position and performs thework required there. It can also operate entirely autonomously withoutfurther interfaces with other equipment.

1. A method for creating clearances in the molding sand of a moldingbox, the molding box being transported into a working area of a robot, apiercing device being brought into a predeterminable position above themolding box, a piercing implement of the piercing device being moved bya drive by a predetermined distance in the direction of the molding sandand introduced into the molding sand to a previously defined depth. 2.The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercing device ispositioned by the robot in a two-dimensional or three-dimensionalmanner.
 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercing deviceis electrically driven.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepiercing implement is moved back again into its original position afterit has been introduced into the molding sand.
 5. The method as claimedin claim 1, wherein, before the piercing, a distance measurement iscarried out to determine a distance between the piercing device and thesurface of the molding sand that is facing the piercing device.
 6. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that wherein, after thecreation of a clearance, the piercing device is brought into a furtherpredeterminable position by the robot.
 7. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the molding box is transported out of the working area of therobot.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the robot and/or thepiercing device is activated by the robot control or by a higher-levelcontrol device.
 9. A piercing device for creating clearances in themolding sand of a molding box with at least one connecting point atwhich a mechanical and/or electrical and/or activating connection to arobot is made possible, with a holding device, with at least one driveand with at least one piercing implement, the holding device beingconnected to the drive and to the at least one connecting point and theat least one piercing implement being movable back and forth along animaginary longitudinal axis by the at least one drive.
 10. The piercingdevice as claimed in claim 9, wherein the deflection of the back andforth movement can be predetermined by the at least one drive.
 11. Thepiercing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one drive isan electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive.
 12. The piercing device asclaimed in claim 9, wherein a distance measuring device is attached tothe holding device and in that, if and when required, the distance froma surface of the molding sand in the molding box can be measured by thedistance measuring device
 13. The piercing device as claimed in claim 9,wherein the piercing implement that has just been used can be exchangedbefore the creation of a further clearance.
 14. The piercing device asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the shape and depth of the clearances can bevaried by exchanging the piercing implements.